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Operating alongside almost the whole size of the nation, the Belize Barrier Reef is the second-largest coral reef system on this planet, behind solely Australia’s Nice Barrier Reef. Dwelling to various marine life and surrounded by lovely turquoise Caribbean water, it’s a can’t miss web site for any traveler passing by means of Belize — however particularly for these obsessive about scuba diving.
Diving is commonly an costly interest, however in Belize it doesn’t essentially must be. In comparison with many different Caribbean locations, prices listed here are extra affordable, and the logistics are a lot easier. In reality, listed here are just a few explanation why dive lovers ought to take a look at Belize for his or her subsequent underwater journey.
Belize’s Solely Unesco World Heritage Web site
In 1996, the Belize Barrier Reef was named a UNESCO World Heritage Web site — the one place within the nation with that distinction. The reef system covers seven separate reserves and stretches throughout a whole bunch of cayes and mangrove habitats, which sustains 1000’s of species, one of the crucial biologically various locations on this planet.
With the UNESCO distinction got here elevated conservation efforts and protections of this pure marvel, corresponding to banning offshore drilling and pointers on anchoring. This was an enormous profit for divers, because it means the reef now gives a few of the healthiest, finest situations within the Caribbean. Every day limits on excursions and different conservation guidelines imply dive costs aren’t all-time low, however when in comparison with different locations just like the Cayman Islands or the Bahamas — which are sometimes inflated by high-end tourism and luxurious resorts — the steadiness between value and dive situations in Belize is tough to beat.
Simple Entry From the U.S. And Canada
There are well-known dive spots everywhere in the world — locations like Koh Tao in Thailand or Dahab in Egypt are normally on most divers’ bucket lists. However locations on the opposite facet of the world means not solely do you need to cowl the price of your tools rental, however it’ll take an costly long-haul flight and a number of connections to get there, too.
For a lot of American and Canadian divers, Belize could be a a lot simpler possibility. Direct flights into Belize’s worldwide airport can be found from a number of main U.S. cities, in addition to Toronto, Calgary, and Montreal. And in comparison with a few of the different smaller, hard-to-reach Caribbean dive locations like Bonaire, Grenada or Saint Croix, you gained’t be spending a big chunk of your trip price range in your airfare.
Keep Near Shore
Belize’s reef being so accessible is one in all its finest perks. In different Caribbean nations, attending to one of the best websites might require signing up for a full-day tour — for instance, in Turks and Caicos, lots of the hottest dive websites like West Caicos or French Cay are over an hour away by boat.
Then again, regardless of the place you might be in Belize, the reef is simply offshore, and you’ll be underwater exploring earlier than you recognize it. Ambergris Caye and Caye Caulker are two of the preferred dive websites in Belize, and each are simply 10–quarter-hour away from the mainland. This protects time, reduces gasoline prices, and retains logistics straightforward, all of which interprets to extra inexpensive diving.
Vast Vary of Websites
Aerial images will simply clarify why the Nice Blue Gap, a large underwater sinkhole shaped from a collapsed limestone cave system, is one in all Belize’s most well-known dive websites. However because of its reputation, costs to expertise this web site have elevated lately. Happily, it’s removed from the nation’s solely worthwhile spot for diving.
One nice various that can be extra newbie pleasant is the Hol Chan Marine Reserve, positioned between Caye Caulker and Ambergris. It’s comparatively inexpensive and likelihood is you’ll spot just a few eagle rays and perhaps even some manatees. Different websites like Turneffe Atoll and Gladden Spit supply the possibility to discover patch reefs, mangrove forests, and big coral partitions. With greater than 500 species of fish and over 60 kinds of coral, the biodiversity and vary of dive websites alongside Belize’s reef stand out from wherever else within the Caribbean.
A lot To Do Again on Land
Once you’ve had sufficient underwater exploring for someday, one other good thing about touring to Belize is that there are many inexpensive issues to do again on land. Whereas cities like San Pedro and Placencia are house to loads of upscale lodges, there are a variety of different nice seaside cities with extra affordable lodging and that present a extra native really feel.
Caye Caulker is house to dozens of laidback guesthouses and hostels, and should you head additional south, the small fishing city of Punta Gorda gives an genuine Belizean expertise with loads of nature and close by Mayan ruins to discover. Relying on the place within the nation you go to, meals costs can range, however so long as you avoid the five-star lodges that cater to the honeymoon crowd, your Belize trip price range is bound to go far.
If you’re searching for world-class diving with out paying prime greenback, Belize must be in your radar. Logistics are straightforward, the reef is in nice form, and day-to-day prices throughout the remainder of your trip will probably be decrease than in a lot of its Caribbean counterparts. That mixture is tough to beat, and is what makes the Belize Barrier Reef among the best worth dive locations within the Caribbean.
